Partners-Mass Eye & Ear Deal Approved

Last Wednesday, Partners HealthCare and Massachusetts Eye and Ear received the final state approval needed for the merger plan they first announced in January 2017.

The unanimous Public Health Council vote last week follows the January decision from Attorney General Maura Healey not to attempt to block the merger.

Under the deal, Partners becomes the sole corporate member of the Foundation of MEEI, Inc. which is, in turn, the parent of Massachusetts Eye and Ear. Mass. Eye & Ear will maintain its own board and provider license.

The Health Policy Commission last year determined that the merger could increase healthcare spending in the state. As a condition of its approval, the Public Health Council mandated that Partners has to keep any price increases for Mass Eye & Ear’s medical services below the state’s annual healthcare cost growth target – currently 3.1%.